Health : US Women are hardest affected by common depression than men

Nearly one in 10 U.S. adults has depression, and the rate is almost twice as high for women as men, health officials say.

National survey data showed that more than 8 percent of adults aged 20 and older suffer from low mood, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Among women, slightly more than 10 percent have depression, versus 5.5 percent of men. And the mood disorder affects everyday life for a majority of these people, the 2013-2016 questionnaires show.

"One of the findings that surprised us the most was that for both men and women, about 80 percent of adults with depression had at least some difficulty with functioning with daily life," said lead author Debra Brody.

These include going to work, completing daily activities at home and getting along with other people, said Brody, of the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

"This report should make people aware how serious depression is, and that it impacts everyday life," she added.

According to the report, depression is most prevalent among blacks (9 percent) and least so among Asians (3 percent). Among whites and Hispanics, the rate is about 8 percent.

Also, as income levels fall, depression rises. Poor Americans are four times more likely to have depression than middle class or rich people -- about 16 percent versus 4 percent, respectively.

According to Dr. David Roane, chairman of psychiatry at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, "The biggest issues with depression are diagnosis and treatment."

In most cases, primary care doctors are able to diagnose depression, he noted. "But people often don't get adequate treatment in terms of both medication and psychotherapy," Roane said.

He stressed that anyone with depression should be monitored by a doctor or mental health professional, such as a social worker, nurse or therapist.

However, there are obstacles to treatment, he said. For one thing, people often don't realize they are depressed, even if they have mood problems and changes in thinking.

Also, mental health problems are still often considered taboo. "The stigma related to depression has decreased somewhat, but it's still a major issue for someone to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder," he said. In addition, many cases of mild depression will resolve over time, so some patients don't want treatment.

"The problem is that if you are having functional impairment, it can be highly disruptive to your life," he said. "Six months is a long time to suffer from depression, and I don't recommend that."

Anyone with recurrent depression, suicidal thoughts or manic and depressive swings should be under the care of a mental health professional, Roane advised.

He said that depression affects all aspects of life, affecting people emotionally and physically.

When people are depressed, they don't sleep or eat well. They are sad and have a negative view of life and feelings of hopelessness, he explained.

The researchers reported that the percentage of American adults who suffered from depression in a given two-week period remained steady from 2007 to 2016.

The study authors also pointed out that major depression is associated with high societal costs and greater functional impairment than other chronic diseases, such as diabetes and arthritis.

It has been shown before that women are more prone to depression than men, but the reasons are not known, Roane said.

Data for the report were gathered from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. The findings were published online Feb. 13 in the CDC's NCHS Data Brief.

7 Common Causes Of Anxiety & Depression

Most people that have to deal with anxiety and depression are unable to provide an exact reason to why they were afflicted in the first place. Aside from an individual experiencing a traumatic event (war, death of a loved one), comprehending what exactly happened to cause anxiety and depression is often a futile endeavor.

In most instances, depression and anxiety does not have a single cause. Medical professionals state that depression and anxiety surfaces from “a mix” of factors: genes, past experience, current circumstances, and others.

Understanding the reason why one is suffering from chronic depression and anxiety is not the most important thing. It is important that people with the disorders understand that it is not their fault. Depression and anxiety is a mental disease; and similar to physical diseases can affect anyone.

Certain lifestyle choices of experiences, however, can contribute to – or directly cause – depression and anxiety. The condition may be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term); it all depends on the “mix” we discussed earlier; knowing this is a source of power, as we can counteract some of the things that instigate the conditions.

HERE ARE 7 COMMON LIFESTYLE CAUSES OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY:

1. SUBSTANCE ABUSE

People abuse substances such as recreational drugs and alcohol for a number of reasons. Substance abuse is a habit that may form at any time, including childhood and teenage years.

Drugs and alcohol “rewire” the brain’s neurochemistry; disrupting normal communication between neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the brain and body’s “communication chemicals” that control every physical and psychological experience.

Individuals susceptible to depression and anxiety who engage in drug use are more likely to develop mental illness.

2. OVERWORKING

Becoming exhausted because of too much of a heavy workload causes stress reactions within the body. Most people today concede that they’re at least moderately impacted by stress caused from work.

When the brain is exposed to chronic stress, it’s delicate chemical balance is interrupted. Again, those individuals prone to anxiety and depression for whatever reason – and are exposed to long-term stress – are prone to anxiety and depression.

3. GRIEF AND TRAUMA

A common talking point in the news is the prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in military members. Being a witness or victim of violence of any kind can trigger a biological reaction that evolves into full-blown anxiety and depression.

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Feelings of grief following the death of a loved one or friend, though uncomfortable, can serve as a good healer. However, prolonged grief in susceptible demographics can cause mental health issues.

4. HEALTH CONDITIONS

People diagnosed with untreatable health conditions may be at an increased risk of becoming depressed. Age-related illnesses or diagnoses of terminable condition such as Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease, or cancer often induce feelings of panic and helplessness; of course, prolonged exposure to these feelings can manifest into anxiety and depression.

It is also worth mentioning that the changes of an anxiety/depression diagnosis increases with age, per WebMD.

5. SUDDEN AND STRESSFUL CHANGES

During the infamous Wall Street Crash of 1929, which led to the loss of billions of dollars and laid the foundation for the Great Depression, 23,000 people committed suicide – at the time, the highest number of suicides ever in one year.

While the number of people who killed themselves due to anxiety and depression cannot be ascertained; it is fair to assume that the mental illness had played a role.

6. POOR SELF-IMAGE

Finding accurate statistics and facts people with low self-image (self-esteem) is quite difficult. Across sources, a few common outliers:

– Females are more likely than males to have self-esteem issues

– People with self-esteem problems are more likely to engage in behaviors considered a health risk (smoking, alcohol and substance abuse, poor diet)

– There is a correlation between negative self-image and suicide

A continually negative picture of oneself can lead to obsessive thought patterns; about appearance, money, reputation, and so on. In a worst case scenario, the brain’s neurochemistry is altered, producing depressive and anxious symptoms or conditions.

7. ISOLATION OR REJECTION

As human beings are naturally social creatures, we require social interaction to function properly. Human beings also long for intimacy; another person to care for, love, and support them.

Isolation, voluntary or involuntary separation from other human beings; and rejection, refusal of others to accept or consider you as part of something, are counterintuitive to the brain’s innate social cognitive functions. As a result, the brain adopts opposing thought processes, and forms neural networks, that disturb it’s natural chemistry.

In short, isolation and/or rejection can lead to a neurochemical imbalance that manifests into anxiety and depression.

Finally…

Should you or someone you know potentially suffer from an anxiety or depression-related illness, there are a variety of effective treatment options available.

Therapists, support groups, medical professionals, and many others are there to help resolve the issue.